Expression and clinicopathological significance of Livin and Caspase-3 in tongue squamous cell carcinoma
Objective To investigate the expression of Livin and Caspase-3 in tongue squamous cell carcinoma(TSCC) and their clinicopathological significance. Methods The expression of Livin and Caspase-3 was detected in 48 cases of TSCC and 12 cases of normal tongue mucosa by immunohistochemistry. Result The positive expression rate of Livin in TSCC was 58.33%(28/48) and significantly higher than that in normal tongue mucosa(P<0.05). The positive expression rate of Caspase-3 in TSCC was 43.75%(21/48), and significantly lower than that in normal tongue mucosa(P<0.05). Overexpression of Livin and underexpression of Caspase-3 was related to tumor TNM stage, histological grade, cervical lymphatic metastasis(P<0.05). There was a negative correlation between them(r=-0.362, P<0.05). Conclusions Livin and Caspase-3 may play an important role in the development, invasion and metastasis of TSCC.